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ALDOT plan for downtown Birmingham could doom dome, BJCC expansion

BJCC Dome Stadium Model

A 2008 model shows a proposed domed stadium at the BJCC. ALDOT plans for an expanded traffic artery would cut the footprint of the facility in half. The BJCC has already acquired some of the property and has plans to buy more.

"This potential project has probably the most immediate
impact as to our functioning and our long-range plans of any single project to
come before this body in many, many years," BJCC board member Clyde Echols said
in a meeting Wednesday.

The board voted unanimously to hire a traffic engineering
consultant to advise the BJCC and act as a liaison with ALDOT. First, the BJCC
will solicit proposals for the consulting work, not to exceed $25,000.

The viaduct, east of malfunction junction, is at the end of
its lifespan, and ALDOT must replace it soon. But a plan to turn 11th Avenue
North into a major traffic artery would cut the footprint of the BJCC's proposed
expansion in half.

The BJCC has already acquired some of the property along that
road and has plans to buy more.

During the board meeting on Wednesday, the board went into
executive session to discuss the impact the ALDOT proposal would have on its
real estate.

"If 11th Avenue is built up and used in the manner that is
described to us, it would make it very difficult to expand on the property the authority
has acquired for the expansion," BJCC Chairman Dennis Lathem said.

The ALDOT proposal could also remove parking beneath the
interstate and remove 9th Avenue North, which the BJCC uses to access loading
docks at its arena and exhibit halls.

"It will make it more difficult," Lathem said. "Again, I don't
know what the alternatives are until we have someone who can help us understand
that."